Vietnam Coffee Competition Coffee - Lộc Rừng Catimor CM washed

This is Vietnam Catimor—reimagined. Special lot for Vietnam National Barista Championship 2026

Not the Vietnam most people expect. Not commodity. Not predictable.

Used by Nguyễn Hoàng Thiên, a young barista who works at Hummingbird Cafe, Ho Chi Min City, with this coffee, he placed 2nd in Vietnam National Barista Championship 2026.
This is Lộc Rừng —a new generation of producers pushing boundaries, rethinking what Catimor can be, and quietly shifting the narrative of Vietnamese coffee.

Origin & People

Grown in Đưng K’Nớ Village in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, Loc Rung sits around 1500~1900 MASL, where cooler temperatures and misty conditions slow down cherry development and build structure into the cup. 

The farms here are run by local ethnic communities, many of whom rely on coffee as their main livelihood. What’s different is the approach—sustainable farming, organic inputs, and a focus on soil health and biodiversity rather than yield alone. 

Loc Rung itself translates loosely to “gift from the forest”—and that ethos shows in how the land is treated.

Processing – Where It Gets Interesting

This is a Carbonic Maceration Washed lot picked at 1900masl and only produced especially for Thien from Hummingbird Coffee to used for his 2026 Vietnam National Barista Championship.

Whole cherries are first sealed in a controlled, CO₂-rich environment—an oxygen-free fermentation that shifts the microbial activity and builds more complex acids, esters, and fruit expression. 

After this stage, the coffee is fully washed—removing the fruit and locking in clarity.

Think of it as the best of both worlds:
 the structure and cleanliness of a washed coffee, with the depth and intensity of experimental fermentation.

This kind of processing is still relatively new in Vietnam—but farms like Loc Rung are leaning into it with precision.

In This Cup

Catimor—when handled well—can be surprisingly expressive. Here, the carbonic process adds a layer of fruit-driven complexity, while the washed finish keeps everything in balance.

It’s vibrant, but not messy.
 Experimental, but still controlled.

Why We Like It

At Society Coffee Roasters, we’ve spent the last few years tasting coffees across Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia—especially exploring what’s possible beyond traditional profiles.

We had the opportunity to visit and work with Loc Rung and this is where we’ve landed.

Loc Rung represents something important:
 progress without losing clarity.

Not experimentation for the sake of it.
 Not over-processing.
 Just thoughtful application of technique to elevate what’s already there.

Brewing

Best as filter if you want to explore its layered profile—V60 or Kalita will bring out the fruit and clarity.

As espresso, expect something a bit more playful—bright, slightly wild, but still grounded by structure.

Vietnam Loc Rung Catimor CM Washed is a glimpse into the future of Southeast Asian coffee.

Clean. Progressive.
 And just getting started.